
Deborah Michaliszyn
Verified Expert in Design
Designer
Winnipeg, Canada
Toptal member since August 5, 2022
Debora is a UX strategist, interactive and web designer, and developer with 25+ years of experience, primarily interested in augmented and virtual reality and cutting-edge technologies. Her passion for UX design has led her to work in interactive product design and digital architecture for the lotteries, healthcare, finance, and insurance industries. Debora is an innovative designer, an idea generator, and a problem solver keen on creating beautiful, functional, and engaging digital products.
Portfolio
Work Experience
Lead UX IA Designer
University of Manitoba
- Spearheaded the design of a mobile-first digital storytelling platform at the University of Manitoba, crafting a clean and minimalist user experience to enhance usability and accessibility.
- Led the design of an AI-powered storytelling platform, resulting in a 30% increase in user engagement by personalizing content based on user preferences and behavioral data.
- Developed detailed user personas and user flows based on extensive user research, ensuring every interaction was intuitive and aligned with user needs, significantly improving retention.
- Conceptualized and designed landing pages for an AI-driven storytelling platform, optimizing user engagement and lead generation while aligning design strategies with business objectives.
- Created a comprehensive product roadmap, outlining milestones for the platform’s AI-driven personalization features, and defined the timeline for MVP delivery and key feature rollouts.
- Expanded the platform with a two-tier tagging system, which increased content discoverability and enhanced personalization, driving a 20% increase in session duration.
- Designed an AI algorithm solution to enhance content curation through a two-tier tagging system, significantly improving content relevancy. Analytics and user feedback will be used to optimize the system for maximum relevancy and engagement.
- Created design documentation for a scalable design system, standardizing UI components across the platform to ensure consistency and efficiency in future development cycles.
- Designed user journey maps, wireframes, and prototypes to visualize and validate key user flows, leading to a streamlined user experience that improved task completion rates by 25%.
Lead UX Designer
Sanofi
- Designed interactions and interfaces for UX enhancements and prototyping for OneAI.
- Created user-centered interfaces for a back-end system at Sanofi, reducing model creation time from months to minutes by aligning designs with back-end workflows.
- Collaborated closely with development teams at Sanofi to ensure seamless handoff of design assets, including wireframes, icons, and UI components, for smooth implementation into back-end systems.
- Conducted interviews with OneAI users to identify their needs and gather inputs based on their experience with the system.
- Designed a marketing website to promote their data-driven healthcare product, ensuring a visually engaging and user-friendly experience.
- Structured the website’s information architecture, optimizing navigation for key stakeholders and potential customers.
- Organized design files in Figma, following best practices for scalability and consistency.
- Designed data visualization dashboards for data scientists, enhancing usability and efficiency in model creation.
- Collaborated with content teams to create compelling visual storytelling and ensure alignment with business goals.
Senior UX Designer
Johnston Group Inc.
- Developed high-fidelity UI designs and iterated on prototypes to simplify complex enterprise applications at Johnston Group, ensuring intuitive and accessible user experiences.
- Articulated vision and led the discussion of a design system and style guide of reusable UI patterns that are accessible and promote optimal usability and accessibility standards. Handled a UX audit primarily for the my-benefits app.
- Conducted user research and customer analysis to create end-to-end user experiences for various software applications supporting Johnston's Group business functions.
- Worked closely with customer service representatives and business analysts and, as a UI/UX designer, conducted qualitative research via contextual interviews with users.
- Improved customer service app with iterative design by wireframing and prototyping, helping improve the end user's workflows in a fast-paced environment and improve the service they provide.
UX Developer
Manitoba Public Insurance
- Designed detailed user flows and wireframes for onboarding processes during a digital transformation project at Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI), aligning flow diagrams with user stories and developer requirements in DevOps.
- Articulated vision and led the discussion on usability and accessibility standards.
- Planned, developed, and implemented digital design and new UX wireframing, journey mapping, process flows, and rapid prototyping for user experience in a cross-functional team and software development within an Agile system at Sprint 0 and Sprint 1.
- Persuaded the team on product enhancements, awareness, and reputation by presenting block frames, wireframes, and prototypes and designing for accessibility and usability, which impacted the UX strategy.
- Developed a strategy and educated the company on UX design in an Agile environment.
- Conducted user research and customer analysis to create end-to-end user experiences for the digital transformation of their legacy applications that supported business functions for brokers and partners.
Web Developer, UI Designer, Motion Graphics Designer
Western Canada Lottery Corporation
- Planned, developed, and implemented digital design and new website functionality for operational excellence in the gaming industry.
- Collaborated closely with development teams at the Western Canada Lottery Corporation to ensure seamless handoff of design assets, including wireframes, icons, and UI components, for smooth implementation into back-end systems.
- Created and coded high-quality web graphics, design patterns for UI, wireframes, mockups, and SVG animations in HTML5 of lottery games to persuade the team on product enhancements, awareness, and reputation.
- Enabled the best possible results by testing the functionality of advertisements on the client's display unit.
- Built the prototype of a new website to upgrade CMS for better maintainability and to improve player experience.
- Designed the LottoSpot mobile website, ensuring a responsive and seamless experience across various screen sizes.
- Developed a mobile-first UI/UX strategy, optimizing lottery ticket scanning and navigation for on-the-go users.
- Improved information architecture and usability, enhancing user engagement for lottery results, subscriptions, and ticket purchasing.
- Created high-fidelity prototypes and interactive wireframes to align with business and customer needs.
- Ensured accessibility compliance and smooth cross-device functionality.
UI/UX Designer
Conviron
- Played a crucial part in rolling out the new branding and design of the Conviron and Argus website, in accordance with usability and users, and into printed materials.
- Managed and deployed a newly branded and updated Drupal website with lead gathering tools alongside their subsidiary companies' WordPress websites to boost brand awareness, enhance profitability, and collect more leads.
- Conducted detailed research for updating and installing new plugins.
- Supported thousands of users by re-installing Drupal and WordPress templates and databases on test servers.
Web Analyst and UI/UX Project Manager
Manitoba eHealth
- Led UI/UX operations for 150+ hospital websites and intranet sites, improving content usability, information architecture, and database integration for Manitoba’s regional health authorities.
- Designed, developed, and coded hospital websites and portals using HTML, CSS, PHP, ASP.NET, JavaScript, jQuery, and JSON, creating templates for CMSs like WordPress.
- Maintained and managed websites on servers, ensuring functionality, security, and performance through regular testing and updates.
- Developed a youth-focused website with a geolocation tool, securing $40,000 in funding and creating work for a 20-person development team.
- Created UI layouts for microsites, ensuring branding consistency across facilities. Developed screenshots, indexes, and help sections for self-guided support and conducted unmoderated testing with user feedback.
- Conducted UX research, testing designs with both power and novice users to optimize usability. Identified and implemented the best research methods based on project objectives and constraints.
- Led the creation of user flows, wireframes, user journeys, and mockups, improving design efficiency and clarity.
- Worked closely with developers to translate UI/UX designs into functional products, ensuring a smooth transition from design to deployment.
- Ensured PHIA (Personal Health Information Act) and HIPAA compliance, designing secure interfaces to protect patient data and privacy.
- Boosted business revenue through effective organization and branding of sites, making medical resources more accessible and user-friendly.
Education
Diploma in Business Information Technology
Red River College Polytechnic - Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Advanced Diploma in Advanced Advertising Art
Red River College Polytechnic - Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Diploma in Advertising Art
Red River College Polytechnic - Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Certifications
Generative AI from Google Cloud
Google Cloud
Design Principles: an Introduction
University of California, San Diego | via Coursera
Human-Centered Design: an Introduction
University of California, San Diego | via Coursera
Aboriginal Awareness Certificate
Government of Manitoba
Responsive Web Development
New Media Manitoba
French Immersion Certificate
Churchill High School
Skills
Tools
Adobe Experience Design (XD), Adobe Illustrator, Adobe, Adobe InDesign, GreenSock, Adobe Photoshop, Photoshop CC, Microsoft PowerPoint, SharePoint Designer, MURAL, Figma Prototyping, AI Tools, Balsamiq, Adobe After Effects, Sketch 2, Google Analytics, Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Dynamics CRM, InVision, GitHub, Jira, Miro, Confluence
Languages
HTML, CSS, HTML4, HTML5, Java, PHP, SQL, JavaScript, JavaScript 6
Platforms
Figma, WordPress, Webflow, Mobile, SharePoint, Webflow CMS, GreenSock Animation Platform (GSAP), Axure, Apache2, Web, Django CMS, Drupal, iOS
Industry Expertise
Healthcare, Pharmaceuticals, Real Estate, Government, Advertising, Marketing
Other
jQuery, Visual Design, Web Design, Advertising Design, Motion Interaction, Interaction Design (IxD), Responsive Web Design (RWD), Human-centered Design (HCD), Adobe Acrobat Pro, Interface Design, Design Systems, Digital Solutions, Complex Problem Solving, UX Prototyping, UI Prototyping, Web UX Design, Web UX, UX Design, Ideation, Pitch Decks, Human-computer Interaction (HCI), UX Strategy, Strategic Design, Data Synthesis, App UX, Wireframing, Business, Front-end Design, User Testing, Web App UX, WordPress Themes, Information Design, Web Platforms, Information Architecture (IA), Product Discovery, User Personas, User Experience (UX), User Experience Strategy, Design Thinking, Design Principles, Rapid Prototyping, Responsive Development, Mobile UX, Mobile UI, Responsive, Mobile UX Design, Responsive Design, Responsive UX Design, Prototyping, Interactive Prototypes, UI Design, Web App UI, SaaS, Product Design, Dashboard Design, Web App Design, Mobile Design, SaaS Design, Enterprise SaaS, Enterprise, Mobile UI Design, WebApp, Web Applications, User Interface (UI), Website Optimization, User Workflows, Usability Testing, Strategy, Management Information Systems (MIS), Digital Asset Management, Data-driven Marketing, Usability, Graphic Design, Marketing Design, Branding, Content Strategy, User Flows, Dashboards, Landing Pages, B2C, Consumer-facing Product Design, Workflow, Enterprise Design, CRM Design, Content Management Systems (CMS), Product Pages, Web Template Design, Front-end, Web UI Design, Audits, Learning Management Systems (LMS), Tables, Mockups, MVP Design, Apps, App Design, Illustration, Web Portals, Mobile App Design, Mobile App UI, Assets, UX Branding, WordPress Design, Landing Page Design, Data Visualization, Web Page Mockups, Presentation Design, Presentations, Brand Guidelines, B2B, Ads, Social Media, Visual Identity, UI Animation, Web Animation, Design Strategy, Responsive Web Apps, Motion Graphics, Animation, Animated Interactive Graphs, System Design, Interactive Charts, Fintech, Early-stage Startups, Interactive UI, High-end Design, No-code Development, Landing Page Optimization, Print Design, Postcard Design, 2D Animation, Motion Design, Communication Design, Brand Design, Web UI, Sitemaps, UX Wireframes, User Interviews, Surveys, Layout Design, Animated Interactions, Proof of Concept (POC), Stakeholder Interviews, Design Workshops, Style Guides, User Experience Design, Workshops, UX Workshops, User Workshops, Ideation Workshops, Discovery Workshops, Collaboration, PowerPoint Design, Corporate Branding, Software as a Service (SaaS), Layout, Mobile First, Accessibility, Atomic Design, Customer Portals, Material UI, Adobe Creative Cloud, Research, User Journey Maps, Design Reviews, Intranets, UX Review, Metadata, Discovery, Roadmaps, Requirements, Design Guidelines, Visual Brand Guidelines, AI Design, Web Application Design, Scrum, Interactivity, Critical Thinking, Creativity, Innovation, Designing interactive, user-centered interfaces, Detail-oriented, Quantitative Research, Mobile Prototypes, Data-informed Visual Design, Infographics, Website Design, Data-heavy Design, Enterprise Systems, Search Engine Optimization (SEO), 2D Graphics, Campaigns, Business to Business (B2B), Intuitive UX Design, Bootstrap, Web Development, IT Project Management, SharePoint UI, Cross-functional Collaboration, User Stories, Cross-functional Design, Remote User Testing, Findings & Recommendations Reports, Web Project Management, UX Audits, UX Research, eCommerce, Design Leadership, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Women's Health, Journey Mapping, Logo Design, User Research, User Journeys, UX Documentation, UX Mentoring, Mentorship & Coaching, Mentorship, Mobile Apps, Feature Prioritization, UI Audits, Nonprofits, User Behavior, Leadership, 3D Design, 3D Animation, Video Editing, Database Design, Oracle DBA, Coding, Mobile Computing (MC), Android App Design, AA Compliance, Microsoft SQL Server, IIS SQL Server, Healthcare Management Systems, Responsive UI, Game Sound Design, Voice User Interfaces (VUI), User-centered Design (UCD), Product Roadmaps, Storytelling, Communication, Geolocation Detection, Web Architecture, DevOps, HDR Photography, Django, Unity, Agile, Agile UX, Personas, Compliance, Lean, Qualitative Research, Heuristic Evaluation, Website Performance, Languages, Culture, Responsive Layout, Healthcare IT, Servers, Sociology, iOS App Design, iOS Animations, React, Drupal Design, Creative Problem Solving, Design Patterns, Stakeholder Engagement, Stakeholder Management, Client Relationship Management, UX Pattern Design, Competition Research, Competitive Strategy, Product Strategy, outcomes, Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI)
Experience
- Complex Problem Solving - 20 years
- Interface Design - 20 years
- Responsive Web Design (RWD) - 10 years
- UX Design - 10 years
- UX Prototyping - 7 years
- Human-centered Design (HCD) - 7 years
- Adobe Experience Design (XD) - 7 years
- Strategic Design - 7 years
Tools
- Adobe Experience Design (XD)
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